Hello all,
I used to be a competitive swimmer and received extensive technique trainings with my stokes. From what I remember, during a stroke, while reaching just before touching the water, hands will go in the water like a knife (turned inwards ) insead of going flat smashing the water without causing any shock between water and hands (like slapping water). From what I have been watching, Michael Phelps is using a hand movement which is really flat and just reaching out , making a pull in both strokes. Is there anyone who can tell me which is better and should I change my technique in my hands?
Thanks
From what I remember, during a stroke, while reaching just before touching the water, hands will go in the water like a knife (turned inwards ) ...
I remember that same technique. It's extremely Old School. It's a great way to swim, if you don't mind that everyone else swims more like Phelps - and swims a lot faster.
One of my biggest challenges when I got back into the water was the business of re-learning the strokes. A lot's changed over the years ... The challenge is to keep an open mind about technique ...
Hello all,
I used to be a competitive swimmer and received extensive technique trainings with my stokes. From what I remember, during a stroke, while reaching just before touching the water, hands will go in the water like a knife (turned inwards ) insead of going flat smashing the water without causing any shock between water and hands (like slapping water). From what I have been watching, Michael Phelps is using a hand movement which is really flat and just reaching out , making a pull in both strokes. Is there anyone who can tell me which is better and should I change my technique in my hands?
Thanks
I share your experience and your recognition that times have changed. I swam through college, ending in '89, and remember the slicing/knife entry you describe. As I've come back to Masters' swimming and worked on technique, there are a number of technique items that I find have changed. I don't think, though, that all of the changes have equal impact.
For example, "old school" head position had you looking forward, while the new concept is for you to be looking down with your head in a neutral position. That has a HUGE impact on your body position.
On hand entry, I agree that a flat entry makes more sense because then you don't need to rotate your hand underwater into a flat position for your pull. It simplifies your stroke and makes it more efficient. However, I don't think it's going to be dramatically slower for you to continue with the old school knife entry, provided you are then rotating your hand into the proper position to start your pull.
With that said, if you can and depending upon what your goals are, I'd recommend watching the "pros" and reading/learning about technique today and then trying to rebuild your stroke with those "new concepts." While there certainly has been a lot of wind blown about the advantages provided by the tech suits, I think the technique changes and training advances over the last couple of decades have had a far bigger impact on speed.
The problem with turning your hand inward is that it increases the risk of an impingement injury to the shoulder.It's safer to not rotate the hands on entry,but you should knife them in,not splash(unless you are a sprinter using the straight arm recovery.)
Hello again,
I quit competing in 1993 when I was 15 and was a sprinter in fly/freestyle sometimes in IM too. Have injuries on my right side (shoulder, knee and ankle) not related with swimming though.
Changing my technique in my hands to the flat position may increase my speed as well as lessening the tension on my shoulder. I kept watching Phelps technique on the fly again and again and yes his hand movements sometimes rotate like a knife but definitely for the freestyle a flat movement is visible.
Thank god that people are still flip turning and my techniqes are so far not that bad but I am keeping an open mind to update/improve myself.
Regarding to body posture and head movements, we were always tought to look down and have total control of our movements. Unfortunately I have a habit of looking around and checking/ comparing/ adjusting my speed with people in the other lanes, which probably I need to get rid of. Sometimes my lane gets so crowded and we keep hitting eachother, I never bruised this bad in my life. My right hand is always black with a bump as if I punched someone. So as long as I am alone I will keep my head down I promise :)
Thank you all for your comments and I will continue updating myself, this is why I am back in school and loving it.
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year
G
www.youtube.com/watch
Here is a good video of Phelps' clean entry vs. a guy with a not so clean entry.
I think some pronation is OK if the catch also incorporates more skull. I think the flatter entry is more associated with early vertical forearm.
